1 A nd again he entered into Capernaum, after days, and it was heard that he is in the house,

After some days Jesus went back to the city of Capernaum. Then news got around that He was home.

2 a nd immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door, and he was speaking to them the word.

Soon many people gathered there. There was no more room, not even at the door. He spoke the Word of God to them.

3 A nd they come unto him, bringing a paralytic, borne by four,

Four men came to Jesus carrying a man who could not move his body.

4 a nd not being able to come near to him because of the multitude, they uncovered the roof where he was, and, having broken up, they let down the couch on which the paralytic was lying,

These men could not get near Jesus because of so many people. They made a hole in the roof of the house over where Jesus stood. Then they let down the bed with the sick man on it.

5 a nd Jesus having seen their faith, saith to the paralytic, `Child, thy sins have been forgiven thee.'

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the sick man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 A nd there were certain of the scribes there sitting, and reasoning in their hearts,

Some teachers of the Law were sitting there. They thought to themselves,

7 ` Why doth this one thus speak evil words? who is able to forgive sins except one -- God?'

“Why does this Man talk like this? He is speaking as if He is God! Who can forgive sins? Only One can forgive sins and that is God!”

8 A nd immediately Jesus, having known in his spirit that they thus reason in themselves, said to them, `Why these things reason ye in your hearts?

At once Jesus knew the teachers of the Law were thinking this. He said to them, “Why do you think this in your hearts?

9 w hich is easier, to say to the paralytic, The sins have been forgiven to thee? or to say, Rise, and take up thy couch, and walk?

Which is easier to say to the sick man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your bed, and start to walk?’

10 ` And, that ye may know that the Son of Man hath authority on the earth to forgive sins -- (he saith to the paralytic) --

I am doing this so you may know the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins.” He said to the sick man who could not move his body,

11 I say to thee, Rise, and take up thy couch, and go away to thy house;'

“I say to you, ‘Get up. Take your bed and go to your home.’”

12 a nd he rose immediately, and having taken up the couch, he went forth before all, so that all were astonished, and do glorify God, saying -- `Never thus did we see.'

At once the sick man got up and took his bed and went away. Everybody saw him. They were all surprised and wondered about it. They thanked God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Jesus Calls Matthew

13 A nd he went forth again by the sea, and all the multitude was coming unto him, and he was teaching them,

Jesus walked along the sea-shore again. Many people came together and He taught them.

14 a nd passing by, he saw Levi of Alpheus sitting at the tax-office, and saith to him, `Be following me,' and he, having risen, did follow him.

He walked farther and saw Levi (Matthew) the son of Alphaeus. Levi was sitting at his work gathering taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Levi got up and followed Him. Jesus Eats with Tax-Gatherers and Sinners

15 A nd it came to pass, in his reclining (at meat) in his house, that many tax-gatherers and sinners were reclining (at meat) with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him.

Jesus ate in Levi’s house. Many men who gather taxes and others who were sinners came and sat down with Jesus and His followers. There were many following Him.

16 A nd the scribes and the Pharisees, having seen him eating with the tax-gatherers and sinners, said to his disciples, `Why -- that with the tax-gatherers and sinners he doth eat and drink?'

The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers saw Jesus eat with men who gather taxes and others who were sinners. They said to His followers, “Why does He eat and drink with men who gather taxes and with sinners?”

17 A nd Jesus, having heard, saith to them, `They who are strong have no need of a physician, but they who are ill; I came not to call righteous men, but sinners to reformation.'

Jesus heard it and said to them, “People who are well do not need a doctor. Only those who are sick need a doctor. I have not come to call those who are right with God. I have come to call those who are sinners.” Jesus Teaches about Going without Food So You Can Pray Better

18 A nd the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees were fasting, and they come and say to him, `Wherefore do the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees fast, and thy disciples do not fast?'

The followers of John and the proud religious law-keepers were not eating food so they could pray better. Some people came to Jesus and said, “Why do the followers of John and the proud religious law-keepers go without food so they can pray better, but Your followers do not?”

19 A nd Jesus said to them, `Are the sons of the bride-chamber able, while the bridegroom is with them, to fast? so long time as they have the bridegroom with them they are not able to fast;

Jesus said to them, “Can the friends at a wedding go without food when the man just married is with them? As long as they have him with them, they will not go without food.

20 b ut days shall come when the bridegroom may be taken from them, and then they shall fast -- in those days.

The days will come when the man just married will be taken from them. Then they will not eat food so they can pray better.

21 ` And no one a patch of undressed cloth doth sew on an old garment, and if not -- the new filling it up doth take from the old and the rent doth become worse;

No man sews a piece of new cloth on an old coat. If it comes off, it will make the hole bigger.

22 a nd no one doth put new wine into old skins, and if not -- the new wine doth burst the skins, and the wine is poured out, and the skins will be destroyed; but new wine into new skins is to be put.'

No man puts new wine into old skin bags. The skin would break and the wine would run out. The bags would be no good. New wine must be put into new skin bags.” Jesus Teaches about the Day of Rest

23 A nd it came to pass -- he is going along on the sabbaths through the corn-fields -- and his disciples began to make a way, plucking the ears,

At that time Jesus walked through the grain-fields on the Day of Rest. As they went, His followers began to take some of the grain.

24 a nd the Pharisees said to him, `Lo, why do they on the sabbaths that which is not lawful?'

The proud religious law-keepers said to Jesus, “See! Why are they doing what the Law says should not be done on the Day of Rest?”

25 A nd he said to them, `Did ye never read what David did, when he had need and was hungry, he and those with him?

He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his men were hungry?

26 h ow he went into the house of God, (at `Abiathar the chief priest,') and the loaves of the presentation did eat, which it is not lawful to eat, except to the priests, and he gave also to those who were with him?'

He went into the house of God when Abiathar was head religious leader of the Jews. He ate the special bread used in the religious worship. The Law says only the Jewish religious leaders may eat that. David gave some to those who were with him also.”

27 A nd he said to them, `The sabbath for man was made, not man for the sabbath,

Jesus said to them, “The Day of Rest was made for the good of man. Man was not made for the Day of Rest.

28 s o that the son of man is lord also of the sabbath.'

The Son of Man is Lord of the Day of Rest also.”